Dining-room service apparatus



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H. W. OLAPP. DINING ROOM SERVICE APPARATUS.

No. 448,009. Patented Mar. 10, 1891.

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DINING ROOM SERVIOE APPARATUS. No. 448,009. Patented Mar. 10, 1891.

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H. W. CLAPP.

DINING ROOM SERVICE APPARATUS. No. 448,009. Patented Mar. 10, 1891.

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DINING ROOM SERVICE APPARATUS. No. 448,009. 2 Patented Mar. 10', 1891.

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I DINING ROOM SERVICE APPARATUS. No. 448,009. Patented Mar. 10, 1891.

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No. 448,009. Patented Mar. 1O, 1891.

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FFICEQ HENRY Y. CLAPP, OF NORTHAMPTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

DINING-ROOM SERVICE APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATIBN forming part of Letters Patent No. 448,009, dated March- 10, 1891.

Application filed August 18, 1890, Serial No. 362,254. (No model.) 7

To all whom it may concern/.-

Be it known that I, HENRY W. CLAPP, a citizen of the United States, residing at Northampton, in the county of Hampshire and State of Massachusetts, have invented new and useful Improvements in Dining-Room Service Systems, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to service apparatus to for dining-rooms, restaurants, and like places,

the object being to provide a suitable elevated track or tracks properly established and serving as a means for communication by means of a carriage or carriages adapted torun thereon from or near to the kitchen of a hotel or restaurant to a point near or above a table or tables therein, said carriages being adapted to convey from said kitchen or station in proximity thereto the food and drinks which may be ordered by the person or persons at one of said tables and to be automatically lowered from said elevated track on arrival over or near one of said tables to such a position over the latter as renders it 2 5 convenient for a person or persons seated thereat to remove from said carriage the said provisions and drinks, and afterward to cause said carriage to be re-elevated to said track in position to be returned to said station at the will of an operator thereat, said carriages being arranged to so operate, as below described, that they serve as a means for conveying an order or orders from the table or tables in a dining-room for such provisions 3 5 and drinks as may be required thereat to the operator at said kitchen-station 5 and the invention consists in the peculiar construction and arrangement of said tracks, the carriage,

and means for manipulating the same, as

above set forth, and in the details of construction necessary therefor, all as hereinafter fully described, and more particularly referred to in the claims.

In the drawings forming part of this specification, Figure 1 is a plan view of a series of tracks,a kitchen or receiving-station, atable,

a dining-room station, and supporting devices for said tracks constructed and a1 ranged according to my invention. Fig. 2 is an enlarged plan view of a portion of the track shown in Fig. 1, about at A in that figure. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a portion of said track and of the supporting devices thereof. Fig. 4 is a plan view, partly in section, of a portion of the supporting devices of said track, a segment of the curved portion of the latter, and of certain of the switch-opcrating mechanisms connected therewith. Fig. 5 is a transverse section of the main element of the track-supporting devices and a side elevation of certain of the switch-operating mechanisms connected therewith. Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a switch-operating arm adapted to be suspended in a pending position under a carriage. Fig. 7 is a rear and Fig. 8 a side elevation of the track-supporting devices at the table-station thereof, said figures showing the rear and side views of one of said carriages and portions of a table beneath the same. Fig. 9 is a perspective view illustrating in detail the bracket devices on which the movable platform Which receives the carriage at the table-station is supported While it and said carriage are moved upward and downward over said table. Fig. 10 is-a side elevation partly in section, Fig. 11 is a plan view with the top removed, and Fig. 12 is an end elevation, of one of said carriages, Fig. 10 showing a portion of the track thereunder and Fig. 12 showing also in crosssection portions of the tracks and a clutch operating device connected with one of the shafts of said carriage or a clutch on the latter, Fig. 12 also showing said switch-operating arm, Fig. 6, attached to the carriage. Fig. 13 is a perspective view of the clutch-leveroperating device shown clamped to the track at the right in Fig. 12. Fig. 14 is aplan View of that portion of the stationary track adjoining said carriage-platform and of the framework of the latter, the top being removed, thereby showing certain operative devices connected to said platform hereinafter fully described. Fig. 15 is a side elevation of certain of the devices shown in Fig. 14, all hereinafter fully described. Fig. 16 is a perspective view of a portion of the cross-brace of the stationary track shown-in Fig. 14, illustrating details of construction having relation to said platform, hereinafter described. Fig. 17 isa side elevation illustrating a series of operating and indicating bars and connecting-wires, located at the receiving or kitchen station, said Wires having connection with devices relating to said platform, all as hereinafter fully described. Fig. 18 is a side elevation, partly in section,on line 0000, Fig. 2. Fig. 19 is aplan view, with the top removed, of a bill-of-fare holder adapted to be used in connection with thewithin-described i mprovemen t, said holder being shown in side elevation on the table in Fig. 7.

In the drawings, B indicates the kitchenstation at or near the kitchen of a restaurant, hotel, or similar place, which station may be on a platform at or near the level of the tracks of the apparatus, to which the requisite provisions destined to be served in the dining-room may be conveyed or brought from the kitchen in any convenient manner.

D indicates the table-station at the outer end of the main or any branch track, said table-station consisting of the platform D (see Figs. 7, 8, and 14,) on which aloaded carriage sent out from the kitchen-station is received. The tracks between said kitchen and table station may be one, or one with several lateral branches, according to the number of tables in a dining-room which require trackconnections.

The main track 2 and the branches thereof are all of the same general construction, said tracks and their appurtenances being supported ina suitably-elevated position sufficientlyfar above the floor of the dining-room to obviate all inconvenience from their presence there, partially by some of the posts and appurtenances requisite to the manipulation of the service-carriage K to raise and lower it over a table, as below set forth, and partially by any convenient suspending devices like or similar to those indicated in Fig. 3, in which 6 indicates one of any requisite number of horizontal pipes or bars suspended transversely under the track, as there shown, by means of hanger-rods 7, preferably tubular, which hanger-rods are attached in any convenient way to the ceiling of the room or partially to girders 8, extending from the extremities of the above-mentioned posts, as. shown in Fig. 8, where a portion of one of said girders is illustrated, and in Fig. 1, the latter figure likewise showing a portion of one of said girders in plan View and a por tion of one of said supporting-pipes (3 thereunder.

A horizontal tube 5 constitutes the maintrack support and is coextensive with the main track and allits branches. Said tube also constitutes a receptacle for various switch and other operating devices of the system, as hereinbelow set forth, and is supported adjustably, whereby it may be maintained in the required level position on said transverse bars 6 by means of two screw-posts 10 for each of said bars 6, each of said posts having their lower ends stepped in suitable metallic bands 9 and rotatable by hand for the purpose of adjusting a crossbar 12, with which said posts engage and on which said tube 5 is supported. By operating said screw-posts 10 that portion of the tube 5 resting upon the cross-bar therebetwecn is adjusted to its proper level. Horizontal track-supporting bars 13 are laid across said tube 5 from place to place thereon in such numbers as may be required for the proper support of the tracks, said bars and track being secured together by a clamping-yoke 14 passing under said tube 5 and having its ends passing through the bar 13 and there secured by nuts, all as shown in Fig. 3. Certain of said bars 13, as shown by one thereof in Fig. 3''and in Fig. 2, require to have that part thereof lying against the upper side of the tube 5 more or less enlarged to provide sufficient area through which to pass a switch-post 17, as below described, and such of the bars 13 as are last mentioned are provided with horizontally-extending lips 15, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, for the support thereon of a sliding bar 16 at the side of said bar 13, to which switching portions of the track are attached and on which they are supported, so that the ends thereof may be moved laterally for the usual purpose of bringing said switching portions of the track into line with the branch or main track, as may be required.

Devices are provided for switching the portion 2 of the main track (see Fig. 2) for the purpose above set forth, which are illustrated in Figs. 5, and 6, and in Fig. 4, and are constructed and arranged as follows: A pending switch-lever support 20 is provided on the under side of the bar 13, at the side of which is located, as above described, a sliding bar 16, to which support is pivoted the lower end of a switch-lever 21, which passes upward through a slot in the bar 13 and haspby means above described, a vibratory motion in a vertical plane. The above-referred-to switch-post 17 passes through vertically, the upper side of said tube 5 and that portion of the bar 13 lying thereupon, and to the outer end of said post is rigidly fixed an arm 18, which extends over said bar 16 and has a slot therein, as shown in Fig. 2, engaging with a pin 19 in said sliding track-switching bar 16. A connecting rod or bar 22 is pivotally C0l1- nected by one end with said arm 18, and the aforesaid switch-lever 21 passes through a suitable opening in said bar 22, as shown in Fig. 5, whereby the vibratory motions of said switch-bar (indicated by dotted lines in said last-named figure) are imparted to said arm 18, thereby causing said post 17 to have a rocking motion, and under certain circumstances, asbelow described, the said switchingbar 16 to be moved horizontally to switch the main-track parts 2 to different positions relative to the main track and its branches. The main-track parts 2, which provide for the requisite switching between those portions of the track near the station B and the branch tracks 3 and 4, have their pivotal points at 0 Fig. 1, and wherever in the system the sec tions 2 of the switching portions of the main track 2 join an end of the latter, or of the latter and one or more branches, as shown in Fig. 2, the above-described switch-operating devices are applied, and, furthermore, said switch-operating devices illustrated in Fig. 5 are applied upon the branches on the main track for the purpose of providing means whereby a carriagecomin g on a branch track in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 4 will operate upon the switch devices on said branch and move the switching portions 2 of the main track automatically, so that the latter shall become properly placed to receive the carriage from said branch track. To this end the switch devices in the branch or branches of the track are connected with those which operate the switching-sections of the main track by means of Wires or suitable rod-connections 24, (see Fig. 4,) c011- nected to the extremities of bars 23, fixed on the inner ends of said switch-posts 17 within said tube 5, said connecting-rods 2& extending in and protected by said tube, whereby they are maintained in proper operative condition.

Owing to the limited field for illustration provided by the small-sized sheets that must be used in making drawings for applications for patents it is not possible to embody in an illustration on a single sheet the general plan and construction of said track system and switching devices in all their details; but it is believed that the general plan shown in Fig. 1, together with the details thereof illustrated in various other figures on other sheets and on an enlarged scale as compared with said last-named figure, will enable persons skilled in the art of mechanical constructions of this nature to easily understand how the track and switching devices of this application are built and operated.

In Figs. 5 and 6 a switch-bar-operating post 25 is partially and fully illustrated, the lower portion of said post being shown in Fig. 5 in operative position adjoining the switch-lever 21, and Fig. 6 is a perspective view of said post. This post is adapted to be screw-clamped in a pending position onto a part to of the carriage-frame, Fig. 2, whereon it is adjustable horizontally between the tracks in order to bring it to such .position as shall cause it to operate the particular switch-lever 21-as, for instance, at h, Fig. at-so that a carriage coming in toward station B on a branch shall strike the switch-lever thereof and operate, as above described, the switch-post 17, the bar 23 thereon, and, through the rods 24:, connecting the latter with like bars of the switches farther on, move the main track connected therewith to such a position as shall cause it to properly receive said incoming carriage, and then on arriving upon the switching portions 2 of said main track shall encounter other like switching devices there located and switch aportion of said track 2 into line with the branch track 83, adjacent to station E, and, when moving on said branch track, to encounter and operate like switching devices thereon, which shall replace the switching section 2 of the track back into line with the main portion of the track 2, whereby the main track is returned to its proper line position to permit of a carriage being sent from station E outward to any required table-station. As indicated in Fig. 5, the lower end of said post 25 (indicated by q) is inclined to the direction of movement of the carriage and post, and therefore when said inclined portion thereof strikes the switch-lever 21 the latter is caused to swing in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 5. To effect the proper action of said switch-levers in the track system herein described by the impact of said post 25 thereagainst or the posts attached to different carriages, it being under stood that the switch-post of each carriage has its own line of movement between the tracks, said switch-levers are located, respectively, in such positions between the tracks I that they shall be subject to the action of a particular carriage, which is sent from the main track onto a particular branch, and vice versa.

The tracks proper of the main-track portions of the system consist of two rails, each of which, as at 2 and 2, Fig. 2, has a plain portion f and a rack portion g side by side, as shown. Said portion f constitutes the track on which the grooved wheels 7 of the carriages run, and the rack portion 9 that with which the gear-wheels '71 of the carriages engage, as below described. The branch tracks 3 and 4:, however, as shown in Fig. 2, require said rack g on one track only, the opposite rail 2' being solely for the said grooved wheels of one side of the carriages.

The above-referred-to side track 83 near station B is provided, so that there shall be a receiving-track at this point for all empty carriages that come to this station from the tables or table-stations, thereby leaving the main track at station Bfree for the reception of loaded and outgoing carriages.

At the termination of a main line or of a branch at the table-station D a platform D is provided, having thereon tracks coinciding with the adjoining ones of said main or branch track, whereby provision is made for running a carriage onto said platform, the latter being shown in plan View in Fig. land in side elevation in Fig. 8, and also in plan view with the top removed in Fig. 14 and certain details thereof illustrated in Figs. 15 and 16. Said platform consists of a frame m, and two catch-bolts 31 operate horizontally within a bar at of the platform-frame and haveamovement toward the side of a cross-brace 33 at the termination of the branch or main track near the platform by means of springs thereon, as shown in Fig. 14. Said springs move said bolts end wise into engagement with two boltcatches 32 on said cross-brace 33 when the platform comes up to a level with said branch track, thereby arresting the platform at its proper level and preventing it .from moving downward until said bolts are withdrawn.

IIO

Said bolts 31 are connected to two levers 30, which are pivoted on the platform-frame, as shown. Ayoke 29 has its ends attached to the adjoining ends of said two levers 30. Under the end of said yoke on said 'framem is fixed a metallic plate 36, in which is an inclined slot j. The free end of said yoke rests on the edge of said plate removed from the entrance to said slot, as shown in Fig. 15. The purpose of said yoke is to provide a means for the engagement of a pending post 28 on the carriage, so that when the carriage runs onto the platform to the position shown in Fig. 8 it shall by engaging with said yoke swing the ends of said levers in the direction of the movement of the carriage and draw the'ends of said bolts 31 awayfrom said catches 32,1eaving the platform free to move down. lVhen, however, said yokehas been drawn by the carriage the requisite distance,its end engages a higher point on the edge of said plate 86, and

it is thereby compelled to follow the direction of said slot j, whereby it is caused to swing downward out of engagement with said post 28, whereupon the springs on said bolts move the latter outward, ready to ro-engage with said catches when the platform rises. On said platform-frame at there is pivoted a lever 34:, one end of which extends above the level of the platform, as shown in Fig. 8, in order to engage with a rack-bar 35, fixed on the under side of the carriage K, to the end that when the carriage comes to the proper position on the platform it shall, by the engagement of said lever therewith, be there retained and prevented from rolling back onto the branch track. The lower end of said lever 3t terminates near to a lever 59, pivoted in the end of said tube 5, Figs. let and 15, said last-- named lever having three arms, as shown viz., p re. Under arm '0 is placed a spring 68, operating to throw said arm upward. To arm r is attached one of the wires 60, (see Fig. 17,) one end of which is connected to one of said levers 61that bearing the indicating-letter B, for instance-and which lever stands in a position in said last-named figure whereby said indicating letter is brought into view above the cross-brace 63. The arm 29 hangs downward and is of angular form, as shown, and is intended to serve to operate the lever 34 to disengage the latter from the rack 35 under carriage K, whereby the latter is left free to move from the platform D toward the station B and to serve as a means for operating the aforesaid lever 61, which carries said letter B, whereby the operator at said station 13 shall understand thata certain carriage has risen upon the platform preparatory to its return trip from station D to said kitchen-station. In Fig. 17 it is seen that the position of lever 61 in that figure, which is connected with lever 59, is indicated in dotted lines in two other positions than that in which it is shown in full lines. Said lever 61 is brought to its said full-line position by the movement thereagainst of a latch 64: hung on the rear end of the plat-form D the free end of said latch, when the platform rises with a carriage thereon, striking the arm 19 of lever 59 and swinging it from the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 15 to the one there shown, and this motion of said lever causes the lever 61, with which itis connected at the kitchen-station, to be swung to the position shown in Fig. 17. \Vhen platform D moves downward, should said arm 1) be swung toward the platform, the latch G l on the latter swings upward and passes by said arm by impact therewith without moving the latter. After said upward movement of the plat-form with the carriage thereon, and-the signal having been by such movement of the platform given to the operator at the kitchen-station through the movement of lever 59 and the lever 61, bearing said letter B, as aforesaid, the operator then grasps a handle of .the last named lever and swings it to the dotted position thereof atthe extreme right in Fig. 17, thereby causing the lower arm of lever 59 to swing against thev adjoining end of lever 34, raising the latter and throwing its opposite end downward and out of engagement with said rack 35 under the carriage, thus leaving the latter free to be-propelled, by means below described, from station D back to the kitchen-station B. The intermediate dotted-line position of said lever 61 in Fig. 17 is the one to which it is swung by the operator to bring'the arm p of lever 59 to the dotteddine position shown in Fig. 15. In Fig. 17 there are shown four of said leveroperating levers 6l,it being intended thereby to indicate that such number, more or less, ofsaid levers is provided for operation in this system as there may be table-stations D; but, there being but one of those stations illustrated in this application, the operation of only one of said levers is described. The wires 60, connecting said levers 61 with the devices above described, pass around two frictionrolls 89 at the end of tube 5.

To provide a support for bracket devices by which the platform D is supported and on which they have the requisite vertical movements, a pillar 26 is firmly secured to the floor of the dining-room, and to the upper end of said pillar are firmly secured three vertical pillars 38, 39, and 40, said pillar construction, as shown in Figs. 7 and 8, being so arranged that in top plan View the pillars occupy -triangular positions, (see Fig. 1,) the pillars 39 and being those adjacent to the edge of the platform D and the pillar 38 occupying the position farthest therefrom and being preferably of greater diameter than the other two. The aforesaid girder 8 (shown in Fig. 8) extends in practice between two of said groups of pillars, thereby contributing to their steady support. In the upper end of said pillar 26 is placed a vertical hunter-rod 55, having a recoil-spring 56 thereon, said rod entering the pillar 26 and having a Vertical movement therein, caused by the impact therewith of the bracket 37, as below described, and said pillars, which extend above the pillar 26 have hung in suitable bearings near the upper ends thereof a shaft 46, having a grooved pulley 5O thereon, around which a chain 51 winds, the lower end of which chain is secured to said bracket 37. A flat spring 47 has one end attached to said shaft 46 and is wound around in cylindrical form, and has its outer end secured in a fixed position to the upper end of said group of three pillars. To the opposite end of said shaft 46 is fixed a grooved pulley 48, to which and therearonnd is placed a cord, the lower end of which hangs down within convenient distance of the table 27 at the foot of said group of pillars. Spring 47 is normally under tension to lift the platform and unloaded carriage. lhe loaded carriage and platform therefore drop gently down to the table automatically. The said bracket 37 (shown in side elevation in Fig. 8 and in perspective view in Fig. 9) has an arm 42 extend ing therefrom, to which the frame of the platform D is attached and by which the latter is wholly supported. Said bracket has hung thereon two friction-rolls 4.3, which engage on the opposite sides of pillar 40, two rolls 45, which engage with the opposite sides of pillar 39, and two friction-rolls at, which engage on the opposite sides of the larger pillar 38, whereby said bracketis hung on and between said three pillars and is adapted to move with freedom up and down thereon, together with the platform D and anything that may be carried thereon. A hunter-bar 53 is carried on said bracket in such position as to be encountered by the end of carriage K when the latter runs onto platform D A bunterspring 5st is placed on said bar 53 and serves to cushion the movementof the carriage when itarrives on the platform in such manner as to prevent any sudden stoppage thereof as might result in spilling or otherwise deranging anyliquid matters carried by the carriage. A ratchet-bar 52 is secured on said bracket 37 in a pending position, as shown in Figs. 8 and 9, and to the upper'end of the pillar 26 is secured a vertical spring-catch 57, which is adapted to engage with said ratchet-bar 52 when the bracket, the platform, and the carriage descend to the table 27 and prevent the rebounding of the platform and carriage when the bracket shall come in contact with the bunter-rod 55, when the latter shall be retired more or less into pillar 26, and its spring 56 be more or less compressed, the object of the latter being to cushion the downward movement of the platform and carriage and prevent any shock at the termination thereof, as and for the purpose above described in relation to the hunter-bar 53. The said springcatch 57 has attached thereto a laterally-extending button-arm 58, which reaches more or less over the adjoining table 27, the purpose thereof being to provide convenient means for disengaging said ratchet-bar 52, thereby permitting the platform and carriage to be carried upward away from the table when the provisions thereon shall have been removed to the table. A light frame-work 90 (preferably removable) is placed on the top of table 27 temporarily during the absence of the carriage therefrom to serve as a guard to prevent any person from leaning or resting thereon in the way of'the carriage when it shall descend.

In the employment of the dining-room service apparatus herein described it is the purpose in practice that the places of each table of the apparatus at which guests are seated shall be provided with plates bearing numbers-as, for instance, 1 2 3and to provlde bills of fare for such table and plates Whereg by said bills shall be selected by the guests according to the number of the plate thereof. A bill-of-fare stand 65is provided, (see Fig. 19,) consisting of a series of vertical sections .9, preferably of sheet metal, secured to a base 0, each presenting an outward face of circular form and having a superficial surface to correspond with the size ofsaid bills and hav ng projecting from each section a pin 6, on which said bills are attached, the latter being held within recesses 00 in the face of said stand, there being a head y on the latter bearing on the several sides thereof, the figures 1 2 3 corresponding to the three series of bills of fare therein, the latter also bearing corresponding figures of indication, so that a guest sitting down at the table at plate 2w1ll ta ke a bill of fare numbered 2, and thereon will 1ndicate by a suitable pencil-mark the articles which he shall have selected for his repast, and having so done he attaches said bill of fare to a hook on the post 91, (see F1g. S,) which is fixed to the base of a waiter 92, which is held and supported by the carriage, but is removable therefrom. In practice the carriage and its platform occupy normallya position near the table 27, so that when aguest becomes seated as aforesaid thereat he finds everything convenient for attaching the bill of fare to the waiter, as above described. The said carriage K is supported on four grooved wheels 70, (see Figs. l0, l1, and 12,) which wheels are hung in swiveling posts 69, whereby the Wheels in passing around curves in the track may turn slightly in the direction of the track they are running on, thereby obviating any frictional binding of the wheels on the track whereby the movement of the carriage would be impeded more or less. The carriage is propelled by two springs 77 and 7 8, each spring being brought into-use to propel the carriage in opposite direotions-as, for instance, the spring 77 operates to run the carriage from the table-station D to the kitchensta-tion B, and the spring 78 propels it in the opposite direction. The said spring 77 is wound around the shaft 76, which is suitably hung in the frame of the carriage, one end thereof being attached to said frame and the other to a gear-wheel 7 4:, which is fixed on said shaft. A second shaft 72 is hung to rotate in said ITS frame in proximity to said shaft 76, having fixed on its outer end a propelling gear-wheel 71, and on this last-named shaft is tixed a clutch-ring S6, and at the side of the latter on the same shaft is placed a pinion 73, having a clutch thereon for engagement with said clutch 86, said pinion and its clutch having a free rotary movement on said shaft by means of the engagement thereof with said gear-wheel 74. At the time of winding up the spring 77, which is done in practice when the carriage is on the platform D the said propelling gear-wheel 71 is in engagement with the rack portion of the track, but is powerless to act from any power that may be applied thereto to move the carriage until the end of said lever 34c shall be disengaged from the rack thereunder. Therefore, in Winding said spring 77 the crank 79 on shaft 76 is turned until said spring shall be wound to its full tension, after which the end of the lever 88 near said crank is pressed upon, (said lever being pivoted to the carriage-frame, as shown,) causing its opposite end to swing in the opposite direction, and through the engagement of a connecting-rod 92 with said clutch-pinion 73, one end of which rod being pivoted to said lever 88, said clutch-pinion is moved to carry its clutch into engagement with the clutch-ring 86, and hence when crank 79 is released the force of the spring 77 is communicated to the shaft 72 and the gear 71 thereon; but the latter cannot rotate until the carriage shall be free to move, as above set forth. When the carriage shall have started from its platform-station D and shall have nearly reached the kitchen station D, the clutch-lever 8t, Fig. 12, engages with the shifting-block 85, thereby throwing said two clutches out of engagement and letting the carriage run into the station under the effect of its own impetus, said block 85 being placed at such distance from the station as shall insure sufficient impetus in the carriage to carry it to such station slowly, and thus cause it to stop without producing any inconvenient shock to the carriage or its load. Hanging wheels 70, as described, allow them to swing with the track-line, keeping their axes at right angles thereto. The second spring above named, which is applied to the carriage to propel it from station B to the tablestation D, is connected to a shaft 75 and a gear-Wheel 74c and to the frame of the carriage in substantially the same manner as is above described relative to the firstnamed spring 77, the said last-named gear 74 being connected to or engaged with a clutch and pinion combined 73 on the second shaft 72, substantially identical with the first clutch and pinion above referred to, this lastnamed clutch and pinion 73 being brought into engagement with the clutch-ring 87 by means of a second lever 88, (all shown in Fig. 11,) which is operated, as above stated, when said spring 78 is wound up, so that the spring shall be held in tension after it is wound by the engagement of the gear 7] with the rack portion of the track after said winding, this last-named gear 71 being on the shaft on which the clutch-ring 87 is fixed. The said spring 78 is wound up by the open ator after the carriage shall have received its load of provisions at station B and while the operator holds it on the track against any movement until said winding is completed, the latter being effected by turning the sprocket-wheel 80, which turns freely on the shaft 72, on which it is shown, by means of a crank handle thereon, the motion of said sprocket-wheel being communicated to a like wheel 81 on the end of the shaft 75, said wheel 81 being fixed on the latter.

Operation: As above set forth, a carriage and the platform of the apparatus on which it is received and lowered to and raised from a table occupy normally a position in a diningroom just above one of the tables 27 thereof. When a guest becomes seated thereat at plate No. 2, for instance, he selects a bill of fare from the stand 65, indicates by suitable marks thereon against the articles which he desires to be served with, and attaches said bill of fare to the hook shown on the post 91 (shown in Figs. 8 and 10) on the waiter 92 on the carriage K, (the latter having had the spring thereof by which it is to be propelled to the kitchen-station B wound up by an attendant,) and the guest then presses his finger on the button on the arm 58, thereby detaching the hook 57 from the ratchet-bar 52 on the bracket 37, on which the platform and carriage are carried, thereby permitting the bunter-spring 56 to act more or less, and, together with the wound flat spring 47 on shaft 46, move the platform and carriage upward to the positionshown in Fig. 8, bringing the latter to a level with the adjoining end of the main track, the above-described catch-bolts 31 causing it to be arrested at this point in its upward course. Should it be observed by the guest that from any suitable action of the above-mentioned spring the carriage does not reach its proper level, he grasps the lower end of the cord 49, and thereby causes a further rotation of the shaft l6 and the winding up of the chain 5i, thus bringing the carriage and platform to their proper upward positions. The platform in passing upwardly past the lever 59 causes the latch or lever 3% to act upon said lever 59, vibrating the latter, as above described, thereby causing the leverGl, (see Fig. 17,) bearing thereon the letter B, to be swung over, as shown, to indicate to the attendant at the kitchen-station B that a carriage having an order thereon is at that station waiting to be permitted to come to his station to receive the required provisions, whereupon the last named attendant swings the said lever 61 to a position, as above described, to the right, whereby the lower arm of lever 59 is brought into engagement with the lower end of lever 34c on platform D to disengage one end thereof ICC IIO

from the rack-bar 35 on the carriage, whereupon the latter, propelled by its said woundup spring, immediately moves off the platform and along the track to the side track 83 at the station B, operating the switches thereof in its course, as above described, whereby the carriage is properly directed to said side track. The attendant at station B now fills the order carried upon said bill of fareon the carriage just arrived, lifts the carriage from the side to the main track, and winds up the spring, as above described, which is to return the loaded carriage to the platform at station D,and then, releasing the carriage, the latter moves off across the track to said last-named station and,arrivingthereon,operatestheplatform devices, as above set forth,whereby the platform and carriage are automatically dropped down to the table to such position that the guest or an attendant may remove the provisions therefrom, and thereupon the platform and carriage are raised up or permitted to be so moved at a convenient distance from the table to be out of the way of the guest or guests. If desired, the said spring t7, connected with the platform-bracket 37, may be dispensed with, and the platform and carriage be lowered and raised by a guest or an attendant by means of the cord 49, whereby the rotation of shaft 46 may be regulated as needed; and also, if desired, said cord and its pulley 48 may be dispensed with and the spring 47 be relied upon to govern the down movement of the bracket and platform and their upward movement be assisted by pushing or lifting by a person in the dining-room.

Having fully described my invention, What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a dining-room service apparatus, a platform having a carriage-track thereon, a bracket supporting said platform, a pillar support for said bracket to which the same is movably attached and on which it and said platform move up and down, a shaft on said support having pulleys fixed thereon, on one of which said bracket is suspended, means, substantially as described, connected with one of said pulleys for rotating said shaft by hand, an elevated track coinciding with the elevated position of said platform and the track thereon extending from said platform to a kitchen-station, and a carriage having spring propelling mechanism, substantially as described, running oversaid track between said platform and station, combined and operating substantially as set forth.

In a dining-room service apparatus, a platform having a carriagetrack thereon, a bracket supporting said platform, having a pending ratchet-bar thereon, a pillar-support for said bracket, to which the same is movably attached and on which it and said platform move up and down, a spring-catch near the base of said pillar-support for engagement with said ratchet bar, a shaft on said support having a pulley fixed thereon on which said bracket is suspended, a spring connected to said shaft to retard and to assist in the rotation thereof, an elevated track coinciding with the elevated position of said platform and the track thereon extending from said platform to a kitchen-station, and a carriage having spring propelling mechanism, substantially as described, running over said track between said platform and station, combined and operating substantially as set forth.

In a dining-room service apparatus, a

platform having a carriage-track thereon, a bracket supporting said platform, a support for said bracket, consisting of three vertical pillars triangularly arranged and firmly secured at their opposite ends in said room, on

between said platform and station, combined and operating substantially as set forth.

4. In a dining-room service apparatus, a platform having a carriage-track thereon, a bracket supporting said platform, a pillarsupport for said bracket to which the same is movably attached and on which it and said platform move up and down, an elevated track coinciding with the elevated position of said platform and the track thereon extending from said platform to a kitchen-station, acarriage having spring-propelled mechanism, substantially as described, running over said track between said platform and station and having fixed thereunder a ratchet-bar 35, and a pending post 28, said platform having thereon a lever 34: for engagement with said ratchet-bar, two pivoted levers 30, two springactuated bolts 31, connected to said levers, a slotted plate 36, and a yoke 29, connected to said levers and engaged by said post, and subsequently by said plate, and the track at the end adjoining said platform, having thereon catches 32 to engagesaid bolts, substantially as set forth.

5. In a dining-room service apparatus, the movable platform having a carriage-track thereon consisting of rails on which the supporting-wheels of a carriage run and a rack g parallel with one of said rails, a permanent track adjoining and extending from said platform to a station removed therefrom, having rails and a rack coinciding with those of said platform, cross-bars on which said rails are supported, a tube extending longitudinally between said rails coextensive therewith, to which said cross-bars are secured, de-

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vices for hanging said permanent track'construetion in an elevated position, consisting of horizontal and vertical hanging bars and girders, substantially as described, adjust able supporting devices between said hanging bars and tube, consisting of a cross-bar on which the latter rests and vertical screwposts between said cross and hanging bars, a lever 59,11ungin the end of said tube adjoining said platform, and a latch-bar filthereon engaging with said lever during the upward movement of the platform, combined with a hand-lever bearing an indicating-letter located at the opposite end of said tube and connected with said lever 59 by awire extending within said tube, substantially asset forth. 7

6. In combination, the tube 5, the lever59, hung therein, the platform D the latch-bar 34, hinged thereon and engaging with said lever during the upward movement of said platform, the lever 61, bearing an indicating character, and a wire extending within said tube and connecting said levers (51 and 59, substantially as set forth.

7. In combination, the platform, the carriage having the ratchet-bar 35 thereunder, the lever 34, pivoted on said platform and having one end for engagement with said bar, the tube 5, the lever 59, pivoted in said tube and having an arm for engagement with the lower end of said lever 31, and a lever (51 at the opposite end of said tube, having a wire connection with said lever 59, substantially as set forth.

8. In combination, the carriage, a pending switch-post 25, secured under said carriage, the fixed track on which said carriage is propelled, having one or more adjacent pivoted switching-sections, fixed cross-bars 13 in said fixed track, one of which adjoins the movable end of said switching-section, having horizontal lips thereon, a cross-bar 16, sup porting said movable end, of the switchingsection of the tracks and resting on said lips, vertical switch-posts 17, each having a bar 23 fixed on its inner end, located in two or more of said fixed cross-bars 13, and extending into the tube 5 of the fixed track and having a rocking motion, a slotted arm 18, fixed on the outer end of each of said posts 17, engaging with one or more of said cross-bars 16,

connecting-rods 21L within tube 5, uniting the ends of said bars 23, a bar 22, having a pivotal connection with one of said arms 18, and a vertical switch-lever 21, engaging said bar 22 and itself engaged by said post 25 when a carriage moves thcreover, substantially as set forth.

f). In a diningroom service apparatus, a track consisting of parallel rails for a carriage and a rack 9 parallel with said rails, a carriage having wheels for said rails, a swiveling support for each of said wheels, whereby their axes are constantly maintained at right angles to the tracks, and spring propelling mechanism for said carriage, substantially as described, engaging said rack, whereby it is moved over said track, combined and operating substantially as set forth.

10. In a diningroom service apparatus, a track, substantially as described, having a rack ghear one of the rails thereof, a carriage for said track having propelling mechanism independent of its bearing-wheels, consisting of a-shaft 72, having a gear thereon engaging with said rack, a clutch-ring fixed on said shaft, and a clutch-pinion thereon in which the shaft turns freely, but which has a sliding motion toward and from said ring, a shaft 76, having a gear 7t thereon engaging with said clutch-pinion,aspr ngengaging said gear 7-1 and the frame of the carriage, a Winding-up crank 011 shaft 76, and a lever to move said clutch-pinion into engagement with said clutchring, combined and operating substantially asset forth.

11. In a dining-room service apparatus, a bill-of-fare stand consisting of a series of vertical sections 3, having recesses cc therebetween to receive said bills and pins 6, on which the same are attached, said stand having a base 0 and head 3 the latter bearing indicating-numbers thereon corresponding with numbers on said bills, combined with the table 27 of said apparatus and suitablynumbered plates thereon corresponding with the numbers borne by said bills of fare, sub stantially as set forth.

HENRY W. OLAPP. Witnessess:

H. A. CHAPIN, (71M. CHAMBERLAIN. 

